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Online sportsbooks and the state government of Iowa are celebrating the state’s first-ever sports betting handle of more than $100 million. After first hinting at breaching the possibility of $100 million handle mark in November, Iowa continued its sports betting momentum, recording $104.8 million in wagers placed in December, an increase of 20.2% compared to the $87.2 million bet in the Hawkeye State in November 2020. The record monthly number resulted in Iowa breaking through the $600 million mark in handle for the year.

Long thought to be an absolute longshot to introduce casinos, let alone permit online sports betting, the Lone Star State of Texas might have just sniffed the first breezes of change. The casino empire helmed by multi-billionaire owner and GOP megadonor, Sheldon Adelson, is beginning to get serious about bringing casino gaming and sports betting to Texas.

Florida lawmakers have made a move to put legal sports wagering back on the table for the Sunshine State’s potential sports bettors. Tallahassee’s bean counters and revenue number crunchers are fully aware of the economic windfall that legal online gambling has brought to northern states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Indiana, and are keen to cash in, on the back of revenue shortfalls due to the global pandemic.

William Hill have launched operations of their online sportsbook in Washington D.C. following approval from the District of Columbia’s regulatory authority, the D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming.

The battle to legalize online sports in New York State has been going on for years. However, as the Empire State now stares down an enormous budget hole on the back of restrictions related to the global pandemic, the State’s Governor Andrew Cuomo, has for the first time signaled that he is now open to legalize online sports wagering.

BetMGM online sportsbook has officially launched in Pennsylvania, following the launch of the brand’s online casino earlier this month.

The rapidly growing online sports betting industry in Colorado is set to welcome another two new online sportsbooks – 888Sport and Betsson. Given both are big and experienced global operators, they are expected to hit the ground running in the Mile-High State.

Tennessee legal online sports betting has charged out of the gate in its first full month in November 2020, recording the best-ever first full month for any sports betting state in history.

Legal sports betting in Colorado has recorded a 7th consecutive month-on-month increase with the Mile-High State’s sports betting handle in the Mile-High State hitting a new record along the way.

Michigan and Virginia look set to prepare the way for several other states to follow in 2021 as they prepare to both launch online sportsbooks. January 2021 is set to be a big month for both states, although the two states will both see it a little differently. Michigan is perhaps a little behind schedule for legal online sports wagering’s launch, while Virginia is way ahead of schedule after the state’s lawmakers legalized the practice only a very short 8 months ago.